‎Lydia Becker (1827-1890), astronome britannique, écrivain, suffragette, féministe. ‎
‎Lettre autographe signée à une autre féministe, Françoise de Lacoste‎

‎Lydia Becker (1827-1890), astronome britannique, écrivain, suffragette, féministe. L.A.S., Manchester, 13 janvier 1870, 3p in-8. A la féministe Françoise de Lacoste (ca.1824-?), auteur d'un ouvrage Rénovation de la femme en 1869. Bel entête Manchester National Society for Women's Suffrage. Très intéressante lettre. « Dear Madam, I have much pleasure in receiving your letter this day & thank you for the friendly sentiments & sympathy therein expressed. Difference of language does make a little difficulty in communication but it does not hinder the closest mutual sympathy in all that concerns the amelioration of the condition of women. We have made a very good step in the winning of the municipal franchise, as you will gather from the fact that it has placed 7618 women on the list of citizens for the municipal borough of Manchester. From the Report of the proceedings of our Society during the past year which I send with this by book post - you will see more clearly how great the step that has been made, and its precise nature. All honour to Mr Jacob Bright, to whose courage, devotion and assiduity we owe this victory, a victory won not for English women only, but for women all over the world, for any great step made by one country in recognizing the rights of women citizens - must have its effect in others sooner or later. We shall better see the real effect of this step when the Bill, of which I order a copy, shall be laid before the House of Commons. Mr. Jacob Bright will introduce it quickly, the session opens early next month, and women all over the world should watch its progress with deep interest. We are organizing a systematic movement of petitions in support of it, and are looking forward with great anxiety but some hope to its progress. There is a better chance for obtaining the franchise for women in England than in any other country, our restricted suffrage prescribing certain conditions of property or occupation as the condition for a vote makes it that only about one-sixth of the voters would be women, were the disability of sex removed - But were the disability removed in England, it could not be longer maintained in the United States of America - & then would come the turn of the women of France! Believe me to be Yours very truly Lydia E. Becker ». Jacob Bright (1821-1899), député de Manchester, avait beaucoup fait pour le droit de vote des femme et était à la tête du mouvement suffragiste au parlement. Sa soeur, Priscilla, était aussi une suffragette. Si le vote des femmes ne fut toutefois obtenu qu'en 1918, le Municipal Franchise Act, de 1869, avait permis aux femmes de voter sous conditions. Les USA suivirent dès 1920 mais il fallut attendre 1944 en France. Très belle lettre, rare. [537] ‎

Reference : 022163

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